Norway’s Elfly Group signs contract with EASA for development of Noemi conceptual prototype aircraft.

Friday 20th June 2025

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Norway's Elfly Group yesterday (18th June) signed a contract at the Paris Air Show with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for the development of the conceptual prototype model of its Noemi (No Emissions) clean sheet, all-electric commercial seaplane.  The contract signed by Elfly's Founding CEO Eric Lithun and EASA’s David Solar reinforces the company's commitment to work closely with EASA towards eventual certification (2030) of the Noemi (No Emissions) in Europe.

This development follows the recent conclusion of the Concept-Freeze-Review (CFR) of the aircraft prototype. The next step towards first flight of the full-scale aircraft includes interactions and technical discussions with the Agency. The EASA Pre-Application Contract (PAC) agreement allows Elfly Group to take the initial step with the agency towards achieving the first flight of the full-scale Noemi conceptual prototype aircraft. The PAC between Elfly and EASA covers the entire process of prototype development covering the agreement on the flight conditions necessary for the aircraft’s Permit-to-Fly. The PAC is structured to reflect a type certification process. This helps both Elfly and EASA to familiarize the development and test activities towards the target for certification.

Elfly and EASA are signing a Pre-Application Contract agreement. This PAC involves agency review from the very beginning of the core development activities involving Technical Familiarization, Design, Manufacturing, Test activities and eventually agreement on the flight conditions for the prototype aircraft.

David Solar, Head of Sustainability, Research and Innovation, EASA, said: "We’re pleased to take this important first step with Elfly through the Pre-Application Contract process. The Noemi project represents an exciting and ambitious vision for the future of sustainable aviation, and we look forward to supporting Elfly as they progress towards a safe and flightworthy prototype. Collaborative early engagement is key to enabling innovative new aircraft like Noemi to reach the market in a safe and timely way.”

Noemi will serve as a valued platform for the future of aviation, highlighted Eric. "We have a fuselage and wing which outperforms the venerable de Havilland Twin Otter (floatplane) by a great margin," he said.

Noemi is a platform designed to be propulsion agnostic, he added, noting Elfly is still making a battery electric seaplane, but the Noemi platform also supports hybrid, Pratt & Whitney PT6 conventional engines and fuel, even, potentially hydrogen too - 'if someone can present a valid business case.'

The Noemi platform is designed for the next 100 years of aviation and to go anywhere on the planet.   “We call it the 'go anywhere plane," concluded Eric Lithun.

Elfly has amassed soft orders for 47 Noemis, worth an estimated $500 million with further interest for 300 more from operators from all over the world. The company is working toward the first flight of the conceptual prototype in 2027. Entry into service has a target year 2030.

 

L-R: David Solar, Head of Sustainability,

Research and Innovation, EASA and

Eric Lithun, CEO, Elfly

NOEMI all-electric seaplane,

sub-scale model

Elfly successfully completed a debut flight of a 1/5 scale model, 4.5 metre wingspan Noemi on Friday, 13 June, taking off from a fjord near Tonsberg, Norway.  The model Noemi successfully completed two touch-and-go's in front of an enthused 60-strong audience of international industry guests, stakeholders and media.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16SRYbXCyRsINdniejk3I9guVjnKs_J1S/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FDoZs04OtXQ3DL-AYBJHHGcAB4CKzfi-/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g2JKO9YZs9IYH3Z9UOK8ToSHY9DyTRtc/view?usp=sharing, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i1PEU8LM2JZhEdfBsRi3W5m61kvq2riy/view?usp=sharing

 

About Elfly Group

Elfly Group is a Norwegian-based aviation company focused on the development and deployment of electric aircraft. With a strong commitment to sustainable aviation, Elfly is leading the charge to revolutionize regional air travel with its all-electric Noemi seaplane.

https://el-fly.no/

About EASA

EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) is Europe’s primary authority responsible for civil aviation safety which also includes aircraft certification. EASA develops regulations, conducts certification, and oversees the safety of aircraft, airports, pilots and operators across Europe. It works to ensure a high and uniform level of aviation safety, environmental protection and efficiency across EU member states and beyond.

About PAC

PAC is an Innovation Services offered by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to external stakeholders to support the introduction of new technologies or innovative solutions. Innovation services are one of the tools in EASA Research and Innovation portfolio and contribute to building for industry a regulatory framework that allows - with legal certainty - to develop new ideas and to demonstrate that what industry develops is safe.